COMPASSION FATIGUE AND THE SENSE OF COHERENCE IN CAREGIVERS WORKING WITH SEXUALLY ABUSED CHILDREN IN SOWETO

[摘要] The aim of this study was to contribute to literature the effects of working withtraumatized children in a continuous traumatic stress environment more specifically in atownship which is historically known as characterised by criminal activities and politicaloppression, Soweto. The study investigates the levels of compassion fatigue and the senseof coherence of caregivers working in a continuous traumatic stress environment.Working with trauma victims especially children who are perceived as vulnerable andhelpless may leave caregivers with feelings of helplessness and hopelessness, angertowards the perpetrators or anger toward the parents for being unable to protect thechildren. Caregivers may view the environment as unsafe for both their own children andthe traumatized children that they treat. These emotions may lead to compassion fatigue,meaning that the caregiver’s relationships at home and work become affected due totrauma work. The caregiver’s ability to manage or cope with a stressful situation mayalso be affected causing their levels of the sense of coherence to be compromised. Thisstudy investigated the levels of compassion fatigue and the sense of coherence amongcaregivers who work with sexually abused children in Soweto. Compassion fatigue wasassessed by using the Compassion Fatigue Scale (CFS) (Figley, 1995, Stamm, 1996). Thesense of coherence was measured by the Orientation to Life Questionnaire (OLQ)Antonvosky (1987). The sample group consisted of 25 caregivers working in Soweto.These included nurses, teachers, counsellors and social workers from this area.2Results of the study indicated that the majority of the respondents manifested anextremely high risk of compassion fatigue based on the high scores they obtained on theCompassion Fatigue Scale. Interestingly the levels of the sense of coherence for themajority of the participants were also high, which contradicts previous findings. Findingsfrom the qualitative data revealed positive and negative emotions related to the nature oftheir work. It also became apparent that caregivers with limited resources becomefrustrated and manifested feelings of inadequacy due to poor referral systems and therewas no feedback from other organisation that deal with the children they worked with.Leaving caregivers with feelings of isolation. It also emerged that caregivers used arange of coping strategies in dealing with stressful situations.

[发布机构] University of the Witwatersrand